Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-21
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
History of Its Remarkable Growth-The
Probable Future.

History of Its Remarkable Growth-The
Probable Future.
The American postal system has been of
such slow growth that the successive phases
of its development have not impressed
themselves deeply on public attention. A
succinct and able article by John NJ
Bishop, in the Magazine of american His
tory, reconnts the history of this growth,
leaving the reader astounded by the extent.
precision, thoroughness and progressive
changes of the service.
In 1917 the Court of Boston appointed
John Hayward to carry and deliver letters.
In ITO Parliament established post-office
for the colonies-New York being the chief
Office. The rates for sixty miles carriage
were, for single letters, I'D, for double, Sd,
and for one ounce, Is 4d. In 1853 Ben
Franklin was appointed Deputy Post
master-Geueral for the colonies He
originated the first fast mail, consisting of
4 line of stage coaches from Philadelphia
to Boston, to run every week They were
the wonder of the age.
The postal rates at the close of the last
century were &c for less than thirty miles :
Sc for under sixty; Zoe for less than 100 :
and so on up to zoe for 300 miles, and 25c
for 4 carriage of over $50 miles. A single
sheet of paper constituted letter two
sheets two letters three sheets three let
tiers. They were invariably folded with
out envelopes. A sheet, owing to this
count, was generally written in the finest
penmanship, and not seldom the written
page was written across, 80 that each single
sheet had eight pages of writing. News
papers were charged lc for 100 miles.
Postage stamps We're introduced in 1917,
before which time all letters were paid for
in cash, either at the office of mailing or
that of delivery. One hundred and sixty
sorts Of stamps have been issued since lS47.
In 1898 the whole Postal Department at
Washington was conducted by the Post
master-General and assistant and one clerk.
The first locomotive used by the mail
service was on the Delaware and Hudson
Canal COmpany's road in Pennsylvania in
1879. The South Carolina Railroad Com
pany followed soon after. But as a regular
carrier of the mail the railroad did not
become factor till 1885, when the road
from Washington to Baltimore was opened.
But SO short were the lines of road, and so
disconnected, that it remained for long
time problem whether the stage coach
was not more serviceable. The speed OBJ
tanned was inferior, and the DELAYS were
yeXatious. But these troubles were steadily
overcome as lines of road became consoli-
dated.
In 1851 occurred the famous reduction
of postage to three cents for all
distances less than 5000 miles. Mail
agents were appointed as early as 1910; but
this branch of the system grew into favor
very slowly. In 1862, however, began the
absolute revolution of our whole system of
mail service. 1t was the device and wit of
a Missouri CLERK in the Office at st. Joseph
VIM. Davis. He devised and was al
lowed to operate the first postoffice car ever
used The slow and tedious distribution
and forwarding of letters from general of
fees now ceased. The work was done on
the car, and letters flew across the CONT
nent like shuttles No branch of public
service ever before existed which de-
manded such a combination of general in
formation with minute knowledge. The
clerk in charge of car must know not only
all the Offices on his route, but all the of
foes in the United States in his division,
and he must know the shortest route to
the same.
The remarkable growth and success of
t4lS ootsil SCI WIG - startling, as being an
example of the power of the State in com
petition with individual enterprise. 1t is
an absolute monopoly at the same time So
that while 'laissez flire' advocate it is
an illustration Of what he calls usurpation,
it is to an advocate Of the socialistic idea
of the State an illustration Of what he hates.
In fine the postal service illustrates admit
rably that neither of these parties is work.
ing on any other basis than sentiment.
Walker has probably hit as near the mark
as possible when he undertakes to show
that the scope Of the State is much wider
than has been judged but that all changes
that deduct from individual and pass over
to collective enterprise should be made
with extreme caution. Our school system
and sanitation of cities have lately in large
degree been thus transferred Whether
the railroad and telegraphs will still con-
tinue to pass more and more into govern
mental control is problem of common
sense
The future Of our postal service is evil
IDENTIFY in the line of increased facilities for
rapid transit, and uniform rate of one
cent for all letters. But there will be
new problem when the telephone becomes
public property. 1t is more than probable
that one-half our present correspondence
will be abandoned in favor of direct con-
versation.